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Former Washougal Councilman To Run Against Rep. Herrera Buetler

A former Washougal City councilman has announced he’s running for U.S. Congress.

Michael Delavar

The Columbian

Michael Delavar will try to unseat Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler in the Republican primary in southwest Washington’s Third Congressional District.

This isn’t Delavar’s first time running for this seat. In 2008 he ran against then-Representative Brian Baird, a Democrat and lost in the general election.

Five years later, Delavar says he’s grown from the experience and ready to give it another go.

He wants to end what he calls the abuse of government surveillance and to restore the full protections of habeas corpus.

“My main focus is on increasing liberty, getting the government out of our lives, especially out of our private lives… and I don’t see that concern from her (Rep. Herrera Beutler) at all,” Delavar says.

Delavar has criticized her for votes that extend provisions of the Patriot Act, and that allow for indefinite detention of U.S. citizens under certain circumstances.

A spokesperson for Herrera Buetler says the congresswoman welcomes anyone who wishes to engage in public service to run for office.